When Rinku Nirgude, a young woman educated up to Class 12, moved to her husband’s village in Trimbakeshwar Taluka after marriage, she was new to the community and its realities. As she gradually built friendships with local women, she began hearing about the health challenges many of them faced. These conversations made her concerned not only about the wellbeing of other women but also about her own health.
Through her association with BELIEFS, Rinku started volunteering in community health initiatives. During village visits and discussions, she observed that anaemia was a widespread yet often unnoticed problem among women and children in Nirgudpada.
Determined to address the issue, Rinku began organising meetings with women and conducting door-to-door awareness campaigns. She spoke about nutrition, healthy diets, and the importance of growing nutritious food at home. With support from local ASHA and Anganwadi workers, she attempted to organise a haemoglobin testing camp. Despite facing three refusals from the local Primary Health Centre, she persisted. With support from BELIEFS, the camp was eventually organised successfully.
The results revealed a serious concern—around 70% of the women tested were found to have low haemoglobin levels.
Rather than stopping at awareness, Rinku worked with women to create practical solutions. With support from BELIEFS and training received through the Grassroots Leadership Development Programme (GLDP), she helped establish 45 organic kitchen gardens in the village. Women received seeds of iron-rich vegetables and learned how to grow nutritious food close to their homes.
These kitchen gardens soon became an important source of healthy local food for families. Some women even supplied surplus vegetables to the local primary school, creating an inspiring example of community-led nutrition action.
Today, women in Nirgudpada are far more aware of nutrition and anaemia than before. The initiative led to the creation of 45 nutrition gardens, while average haemoglobin levels among participating women improved by nearly 25%.
Rinku’s journey demonstrates how a young woman, equipped with determination, community support, and local leadership opportunities, can help bring meaningful change to an entire village.
Impact at a Glance
- 45 Organic Kitchen Gardens Established
- 70% Women Identified with Anaemia Through Screening
- Significant Increase in Nutrition Awareness
- Average Haemoglobin Levels Improved by 25%
- Women-Led Community Action for Better Health.
“Real change begins when community members themselves become leaders of change.”